It was not known at that time the poor rate of fire and accuracy of the gun compared to Western standards. Indeed, while the Centurion was rearmed with the 20-pdr (83 mm), the 120 mm of the IS-3 was still superior, supposedly in range, and at least on impact. The real threat posed by postwar heavy soviet tanks like the IS-3 and others asked for an even better protected/better armed tank than the Centurion and led to design the Conqueror.
This was done by fitting a new turret armed with the 20 pdr to the existing Cromwell chassis. This little known transitional tank was a compromise, destined to rearm reserve units stationed in Great Britain with a more potent tank in the 1950s. The fame of this model made it a landmark in tanks history.Īustrian Charioteer. The Centurion main battle tank was the most recognizable postwar tank of Great Britain, encompassing the best lessons learned from WW2 into a “universal tank” package, mid-way between the old cruisers and the heavy tanks. This tank, only tested in Belgium during the last days of ww2 in Europe, would become immensely famous during the cold war not only for its long, successful and battle-proven career as to be regarded by most experts today as the first main battle tank. At that time previous heavy tanks projects failed and it was thought that a heavier cruiser could provide the armoured divisions with the “universal tank” concept which emerged from the war. The Centurion, largely based on the latter received an extra pair of road wheels and longer chassis for increased protection. The Comet, the last of a long line of cruisers was fast, better protected and better armed, with a long 17-pdr, than most allied tanks. While UK’s economy was seriously in jeopardy after the war, tank development reached a peak in 1944-45 with the Comet and the Centurion, both cumulating all the hard-learnt lessons from encounters with German tanks. 1982 Argentinian Invasion of the Falkland Islands.Conqueror Gun Carriage (GC) (Fake Tank).Excalibur Light Airborne Tank Destroyer.FV4201 Chieftain/90mm Gun Tank T95 Hybrid.
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